History of Dayton Women and the Dayton Woman’s Club Children’s Historical Publishing Mission Statement Children’s Historical Publishing empowers children, especially minority and disadvantaged youth, by integrating art, history, science and technology into products and services that enhance their educational experience. Published by: Children’s Historical Publishing Founder: William F. Bell 1998 Executive Director—Joyce Kasprzak Contact us at (937)643-0502 or at www.chpsbooks.org Joyce Kasprzak Brian Reid Kathleen Russell Executive Director Editor Graphic Design Mollie Hauser Sherri Goudy Historian/Co-Author Co- Author Teacher’s Curriculum Guides available for free download at: www.chpsbooks.org Thank you to our Contributors: Margaret Kruckemeyer Thank you to friends and supporters of Children’s Historical Publishing whose dedicated efforts and input has helped complete this project. 2019 Copyright © by Children’s Historical Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or copied in any media format without the expressed written consent of Children’s Historical Publishing. Introduction The strength of women in our society has been the ever-present, but the often quiet engine that kept the country progressing -- from Revolutionary War nurses to pioneer women to the much-needed factory workers during World Wars I and II. This book will introduce you to the not-so-quiet women who chose to step up and lead the way to create a legacy of organizations and ideas that still benefit the greater Miami Valley community and your lives to this day. It’s important to understand that these women lived in a time when very few had more than high school education, did not work outside the home, and until 1920, could not even vote. And yet, the women you will meet on these pages still had the intelligence and the desire to make their world better. They also understood that there was great power in their ability to build relationships with each other and join forces to make good things happen. They worked on things like voting rights for women, labor problems, urbanization issues, immigration, migration, and corruption in the government. Sound familiar? Guess what—all of these issues are still with us today! One of the first things these women also did was to find a place where they could call home, a place to meet and work together and support one another. The beautiful and graceful building at 225 N. Ludlow Street still stands today. It is a testament to over 100 years of the dedicated members of the Dayton Woman’s Club maintaining it for generations of empowered women (and men) to support one another and join forces to make things happen. The Dayton Woman’s Club is now The Woman’s Club Foundation-a non-profit organization whose mission is to be once again the meeting place to empower and support those who want to lead and make a difference in our community. It’s your turn in the world. What do you want to change? Deb McNeff, President The Dayton Woman’s Club Historian and Co-Author BIOGRAPHY for MOLLIE E. HAUSER Marie J. Kumler, beloved teacher and leader, in 1907, organized the eight existing literary clubs to become the Dayton Federation. John H. Patterson wisely felt the Federation members needed a clubhouse in which to meet together. Patterson consulted with Mrs. Kumler about the purchase of a mansion in a central location for all members. They chose the Steele/Darst mansion in Dayton’s downtown area. This lovely home, built around 1850 by Mr. Steele, was purchased and remodeled at the time of the Civil War by Mr. Darst. The Federation purchased the home in 1916. They, too, added to the house so young women could have a home close to the area in which they were employed. By 1959 the Club was so successful that the women added a ballroom, the final change made to this mansion. The purpose of the Dayton Federation was to unite the Club members for self-improvement and service to our community, our state and our nation. Sadly the Federation no longer exists, but the purpose of our membership remains the same. Mollie Hauser is a devoted member of the Dayton community. She has dedicated her life to service and education. She earned her teaching and professional writing certificate from Wright State University and was employed for 20 years as Assistant Director of both a local and national nonprofit physicians’ organization. She also edited the newsletter for these groups. She currently serves as historian for the Dayton Woman’s Club. She joined the Dayton Woman’s Club in 2003. She also served on the Board of the Woman’s Club Foundation and in 2011 served as President for one year. In 2016 she chaired activities for the 100th Anniversary of the Dayton Woman’s Club. Mollie is dedicated to civic work, serving the past 18 years as a community volunteer. Prior to this time, and while fully employed, she was a founding member and secretary of the Montgomery County Historical Society Guild. She also served as President for the Board of the Dayton Metro Library, and at the Dayton Art Institute, where she assisted the Dayton Art Institute Library Archivist. In 2002 she was elected to the Board of the Opera Guild of Dayton and served for ten years, twice as Recording Secretary of the Holiday Tables fund raiser. She also served on the Board of Directors as Managing Vice President of Special Events/ Hospitality and later of Marketing/ Communications. As part of her service to the community, Mollie was asked to take the position of Treasurer for the Dayton Federation Marie J. Kumler Scholarship program and was elected Corresponding Secretary and then Recording Secretary of the Board of the Dayton Federation of Women’s Clubs. Mollie E. Hauser Past President/ Historian The Woman’s Club of Dayton Note by Co-Author Part two is all about the Women’s Club Movement. Women’s Clubs gained popularity right after the Civil War. There were clubs in cities and towns across the United States, including Dayton. But why? Women have not always been allowed to work or participate in public life. But women wanted to contribute to our culture and their communities. The best way for them to do their part was to get together with other women, known as “networking.” It’s a way of working together to get things done. There were many different clubs, such as book clubs, where women would read and gain literary knowledge. Others focused on art or music. Charitable clubs helped raise money for the poor. Political clubs were formed to learn about politics and help change laws. Club members gathered at meetings to give reports on what they had learned and to come up with plans to make a difference in the community. In Dayton, African American women formed the first women’s club. It was called the Colored Literary Society, founded in 1884. Most of the history of women’s clubs in the United States indicates that white, well-to-do women ran them. However, in Dayton, there were not only black women’s clubs, but also clubs with black, white, and immigrant women, who together to accomplish great things. Because of the literary clubs, women were inspired to form the Dayton Public Library. Similarly, the women of the Dayton Music Club helped to establish the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. And there would be no Dayton Art Institute if it weren’t for women’s clubs, which promoted a love of art in the community. Having a strong network is critical to achieving goals. The women’s clubs knew they had to support one another and work together to make their communities better. The women’s clubs were essential to the founding of important cultural institutions in Dayton. More importantly, women’s clubs paved the way for the passage of suffrage and equal rights within Dayton and communities across the entire nation. Sherri Lynn Goudy, MH. Historian/Marketing Coordinator Children’s Historical Publishing Table of Contents Part One: Dayton Women Influence History Part Two: History of Dayton Women’s Clubs Part Three: Dayton Trailblazers in Women’s History… Part Four: Test Your Knowledge Part One Dayton Women Influence History Electra Collins Doren Each time you visit one of our library branches, you should thank a lady named Electra C. Doren. Imagine this – she began working for the Montgomery County Library when she was 18 years old and a few years later a library was named in her honor—The Electra C. Doren branch located on Troy Street close to Dayton Children’s Hospital. Miss Doren was a loving friend to each of her library staff members. She approached problems in a new way establishing what today is the bookmobile for Daytonians who are unable to visit one of the library branches. Doren believed in the importance of a woman’s right to vote. She helped preserve its history with her large collection of papers of this movement. Ms. Doren helped found the League of Women Voters of Dayton that was formed in 1920. In 1997, Electra C. Doren was inducted into Dayton’s Walk of Fame, and in 1999, she was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame. [1] Mary Davies Steele Reading is a wonderful hobby. Today you can belong to a book club, or you can ask a group of friends to make plans for one of your own. In 1889, Mary Davies Steele helped promote Dayton’s very first book club, The Woman’s Literary Club. Because of Mary’s knowledge and love for books, she helped suggest the Club’s programs for its first year.